Book compartment construction for chapel pews and the like



A. M. JACOB] June 7, 1966 BOOK COMPARTMENT CONSTRUCTION FOR CHAPEL PEWS AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 18, 1964 INVENTOR.

ARNO M. JACOB] ATTORNEY5 FIE--3- United States Patent 3,254,931 BOOK COMPARTMENT CONSTRUCTION FOR CHAPEL PEWS AND THE LIKE Arno M. Jacobi, Belmont, Califi, assignor to Walter Jacobi & Sons Inc., Belmont, Califl, a corporation of California Filed Nov. 18, 1964, Ser. No. 412,012 '7 Claims. (Cl. 312-235) The present invention relates to improvements in a book compartment construction for chapel pews and the like and more particularly to such a book compartment construction which includes a door capable of closing the compartment and also capable of being swung into an out-of-the-way position when the compartment is to be open.

It is well known in pew construction to provide a seat for the user behind a counter-like unit which serves to hold prayer books or other materials for personal use during the service or on other occasions. In many instances, a simple rack is provided at the back of the pew next in front to serve this purpose, but in other cases it is important to provide a compartment which will hold a reasonable amount of material and which will conceal it from view when the compartment is closed in order to provide an improved, attractive appearance. Such book compartment constructions are particularly suitably for chapels in convents, schools, or in other areas where a particular location at the pew is intended to be used by the same person over and other again.

Nevertheless, it is important that this door does not interfere with the use of the top surface for laying out the books and other material during use, as well as being of a practical construction for opening and closing.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a book compartment construction for pews having a special door and hinge structure therefor so that the door may swing between a position where it lies flat on top of the compartment in such a way that it presents a useful work surface and also swing downwardly to provide a closure for the compartment.

Another object of this invention is to provide a book compartment construction having a door of the character described in which no hardware is required other than that utilized for the hinge structure and in which the door is adapted to lie flat on the top with no interference with use of the seat in front.

A further object of the invention is to provide a book compartment construction of the character described in which the compartment is made substantially of wood having smooth edges and in which most of the hardware can be placed on the board when made at the factory and yet axial adjustment is possible to facilitate installation, service and replacement of parts.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a book compartment structure of the character described in which the hinges are designed to allow heavy books to be rested on the open door when in use, and in which the whole construction presents an attractive appearance which is neat, proper and dignified.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will appear as the specification proceeds, and the new and novel features of my book compartment construction for chapel pews and the like will be fully defined in the claims attached hereto.

In generally, these objects are carried out in accordance with the invention by the provision of a book compartment construction for pews and the like in which the compartment includes a bottom, a top, a rear wall, and a pair of side walls defining a substantially rectangular shaped open front and in which a special door construction is-included. This door construction generally comprises a substantially rectangular panel adapted to serve as a closure for said open front and sized to abut the edges of the top, bottom and side walls bordering said opening, a pair of hinge brackets disposed at each side of said opening and extending above the top wall, said hinge brackets each containing a pin extending inwardly along a common line located above the top and substantially parallel thereto and in front of the rectangular opening and substantially parallel thereto, a pair of edge .brackets on each side of said door, with each bracket containing walls defining a hole constructed to receive the p n of a hinge bracket whereby the door is held by said brackets in a position in which it is free to swing through a-reflex angle between an open position where the door lies fiat on the top of the compartment and a closed position where the door lies flat against the edges defining said rectangular opening.

The preferred form of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this description, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective View illustrating pews containing the preferred form of the book compartment construction of this invention;

FIGURE 2, a cross-sectional view taken substantially in the plane of line 22 of FIGURE 1 and illustrating the internal par-ts of the door construction more completely;

FIGURE 3, an enlarged elevational view, partially fragmentary and partially exploded, illustrating in greater detail the door and hinge construction of the invention; and

FIGURE 4, an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken substantially in the plane of line 4-4 of FIG- URE 3.

While I have shown only the preferred forms of my invention, it should be understood that various Changes or modifications may be made within the scope of the claims hereto attached, without departing from the spirit of the invention. 7

Referring to the drawing in greater detail, there is shown in FIGURE 1, pews 11, together with front screen 12, which may be equipped with suitable kneele-rs 13, if desired, and containing a plurality of book compartments 14 in side-by-side relation. Each of said book compartments contains a bottom 16, which is continuous for a plurality of side-by-side book compartments, atop 17, which is also continuous for a plurality of side-by-side compartments, a

. rear wall 18, and a pair of side walls 19. The rear wall 18 is also continuous I for the side-by-side compartments. When the rear wall is located on a pew 11, it also serves as a back for the seat next in front; and when the rear wall is located on the front screen, it is integral with the whole wall for the screen itself. The side walls 19 include party walls 19a between adjacent compartments and the end panels 1% of the pew construction for each end. With this construction, it is seen that each compartment provides a substantially rectangular-shaped open front 21, with a door 22 comprising a substantially rectangular panel adapted to serve as a closure for said open front and sized to abut the edges, top, bottom and side walls 19a bordering said opening. It should be noted, however, that where the side wall is the pew end 1912, the door 22 may fit in close relation thereto rather than abut the edge thereof.

Generally, the height of the rectangular opening is narrower than the top of the pew so that the door 22 may rest on the top of the pew when in an open position without extending over the edge thereof on the side where the occupant of the next seat in front will be located. With this construction, the door 22 is free to swing through a reflex angle indicated by arrows 23 between an open position where the door lies flat on the top of the compartment and the closed position where the door lies flat against the edges defining said rectangular opening.

Preferably, the door 22 is composed of a flat board of wood material having the grain running lengthwise and contains a pair of edge brackets 24 extending over the entire edge to protect the grain of the wood and retain an attractive appearance. These edge brackets may be suitably fastened as by screws 26, and with the construction of the present invention, these brackets may be assembled at the factory rather than on the job.

Preferably, these brackets are made of metal and contain walls defining a hole 27 which is adapted to receive a pin around which the door will swing. As best seen in FIGURE 3, these holes are located near the top of the door and above the top edge of the book compartment.

The door structure also contains a pair of binge brackets 28 disposed at each side of the compartment, and each hinge bracket contains a pin 29 adapted to fit into the hole 28 so that the edge brackets cooperate with the hinge brackets and provide a pivot around which the door is swung. It should be noted that the hinge pins ars aligned and defined a line substantially parallel to the top of the compartment and above the compartment, as well as being substantially parallel to and in front of the front opening. With this construction, the door is adapted to lie fiat over the opening and to be held there by gravity, and yet be swung through a reflex angle so as to be held flat on the top of the pew, also by gravity.

It should be noted that the hinge brackets which are utilized between compartments are partly brackets 28a, containing a party Wall 31 which is narrow and elongated and constructed to fit neatly between doors, and a pin on each side of the wall which is preferably cast integrally therewith. The bracket containing the party wall also contains a flange 32 which is utilized to fasten the hinge bracket to the edge wall 19a in the proper location by means of screws 33 or similar fastening means. The hinge brackets 2812 at the ends are fastened to walls 19b and contain only one pin 29. This pin extends at right angles from a plate 34 which is held in place by fastening screws 36. Preferably, the flange 31 and plate 34 is constructed to match the edge brackets at the upper ends thereof to provide a substantially continuous surface at the top- With the hinge and bracket construction described as.

above, it is not only possible to provide a neat, attractive appearing book compartment having a door adapted to swing as explained above, but it is also possible to provide a door construction in a minimum of parts and have the edge brackets assembled at the plant. In this way, installation may be achieved simply by installing the hinge brackets in place on the pews by adding screws 33 and 36. In providing such installation, the doors may be placed in an open position so as to be out of the way of the screw holes whereby fastening may be easily accomplished in proper alignment. It should also be noted that with the hinge pins fitting into the holes in the edge brackets, a certain amount of axial play is tolerable and no hinge adjustment is required in order to make the hinges fit. This is of particular advantage in allowing for easy construction, simple repair and maintenance without undue effort.

In operation, it is seen that where the pews are not in use, all of the doors are swung into the closed position as shown in the front screen 12 of FIGURE 1. Where the pew is in use, the door is simply swung to the open position on top, as illustrated for the center compartment in the first pew behind the front screen in FIGURE 1. The next pew shows all three compartments being open. From the drawing, it is seen that no matter how many compartments are open or closed, an attractive appearance is consistently presented and this is obtained in combination with the mechanical advantages and the simple structures described above.

I claim:

1. In a book compartment construction formed integrally with a pew equipped with a kneeler with the book compartment construction including a bottom, a substantially flat top, a rear wall, and a pair of side Walls defining a compartment having a substantially rectangular-shaped open front, in combination, a door comprising a substantially rectangular panel adapted to serve as a closure for said open front and size to abut the edges of the top, bottom and side walls bordering said opening, a pair of hinge brackets disposed at each side of said opening and extending above the top wall, said hinge brackets each containing a pin extending inwardly along a common line located above the top and substantially parallel thereto and in front of the rectangular opening and substantially parallel thereto, a pair of edge brackets on each side of said door, with each bracket containing .walls defining a hole constructed to receive the pin of a hinge bracket whereby the door is held by said brackets in a position in which it is free to swing through a reflex angle between an open position where the door lies flat on. the top of the compartment in a manner in which substantially the entire lower surface of the door is in contact with the upper surface of the top and a closed position where the door lies flat against the edges defining said rectangular opening.

2. The book compartment construction defined in claim 1, in which the hinge brackets and the edge brackets are constructed of metal and the door is constructed of wood.

3. The book compartment construction defined in claim 2, in which the edge brackets cover the entire edge of the door so as to cover all of the door surface which .is perpendicular to the grain of the wood.

4. In a book compartment construction for pews and the like in which a row of side-by-side book compartments are located in front of a bench for use by the occupant, and in which the compartments are formed with a substantially flat top extending over the plurality of side-by-side compartments, a substantially fiat bottom disposed over the plurality of side-by-side compartments, a back wall extending over said plurality of side-by-side compartments, and a plurality of end walls with the walls [between compartments serving as a party wall and having the front edges of the top, bottom and side walls defining a substantially rectangular-shaped open front on each compartment, in combination, a plurality of doors with one door being provided for each compartment, each of said doors comprising a substantially rectangular panel adapted to serve as a closure for the open front of its associated compartment and sized to abut the edge of the top, edge of the bottom, and edges of the side walls bordering the said opening, a pair of binge brackets disposed at each side of each opening and extending above the top wall, said hinge brackets each containing a pin extending inwardly along a common line located above the top and substantially parallel thereto and in front of the rectangular opening and substantially parallel thereto, a pair of edge brackets on each side of said door with each edge bracket containing walls defining a hole constructed to receive a pin of a hinge bracket whereby the door is free to swing through a reflex angle between an open position wherein the door lies flat on the top of the compartment and a closed position where the door lies flat against the edges defining said rectangular opening.

5. The book compartment construction defined in claim 4, in which the hinge brackets located between adjacent compartments serve as a single hinge bracket for both adjacent compartments and each of such brackets contains a pair of binge pins for that purpose, all of said hinge pins being aligned in a single straight line so that all of the doors are similarly aligned.

6. The book compartment construction defined in claim 5, in which the hinge brackets and the edge brackets are constructed of metal and the door is constructed of wood.

5 6 7. The book compartment construction defined in 1,172,415 2/1916 Weiser 312-435 claim 6, in which the edge brackets cover the entire edge 1,232,094 7/1917 Sage 3'12315 X of the door so as to cover all of the door surface which is perpendicular to the grain of the wood. FOREIGN PATENTS 5 References Cited by the Examiner 1103'533 3/1961 Germany UNITED STATES PATENTS CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner. 163,939 6/1875 Moore 312 315 X 365,297 6/1887 Conner 297 163 CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Examiner. 

1. IN A BOOK COMPARTMENT CONSTRUCTION FORMED INTEGRALLY WITH A PEW EQUIPPED WITH A KNEELER WITH THE BOOK COMPARTMENT CONSTRUCTION INCLUDING A BOTTOM, A SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT TOP, A REAR WALL, AND A PAIR OF SIDE WALLS DEFINING A COMPARTMENT HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR-SHAPED OPEN FRONT, IN COMBINATION, A DOOR COMPRISING A SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR PANEL ADAPTED TO SERVE AS A CLOSURE FOR SAID OPEN FRONT AND SIZE TO ABUT THE EDGES OF THE TOP, BOTTOM AND SIDE WALLS BORDERING SAID OPENING, A PAIR OF HINGE BRACKETS DISPOSED AT EACH SIDE OF SAID OPENING AND EXTENDNG ABOVE THE TOP WALL, SAID HINGE BRACKETS EACH CONTAINING A PIN EXTENDING INWARDLY ALONG A COMMON LINE LOCATED ABOVE THE TOP AND SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL THERETO AND IN FRONT OF THE RECTANGULAR OPENING AND SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL THERETO, A PAIR OF EDGE BRACKETS ON EACH SIDE OF SAID DOOR, WITH EACH BRACKET CONTAINING WALLS DEFINING A HOLE CONSTRUCTED TO RECEIVE THE PIN OF A H INGE BRACKET WHEREBY THE DOOR IS HELD BY SAID BRACKETS IN A POSITION IN WHICH IT IS FREE TO SWING THROUGH A REFLEX ANGLE BETWEEN AN OPEN POSITION WHERE THE DOOR LIES FLAT ON THE TOP OF THE COMPARTMENT IN A MANNER IN WHICH SUBSTANTIALLY THE ENTIRE LOWER SURFACE OF THE DOOR IS IN CONTACT WITH THE UPPER SURFACE OF THE TOP AND A CLOSED POSITION WHERE THE DOOR LIES FLAT AGAINST THE EDGES DEFINING SAID RECTANGULAR OPENING. 